Are you a motivated accounting assistant looking for a new job, or is there a particular job opening you are targeting? Well, we have something for you. This article will look at one of the most important documents interviewers and hiring managers to need- the resume. A perfect resume will give you an advantage over other applicants, helping you proceed to the next step, which is the interview.
However, do you know how to write the perfect resume? Do you have any idea what should be included or not? An excellent resume should be divided into sections, including personal profile, work experience, education, skills, and other certifications. We will cover the roles, responsibilities, education, and experience required in an accounting assistant position to get you acquainted with this role. We also have two resume examples that should help you in your quest to be shortlisted. Let’s delve deeper into what this role requires.
Position Description
Accounting assistants offer administrative support to the accounting teams of different organizations. They also perform clerical tasks such as filing, performing bookkeeping activities, replying to emails, and handling both emails and phone calls. They generally receive on-job training or go through apprenticeship programs to be good at their job. Let’s look at some of the roles and responsibilities of an accounting assistant.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Offering support to the accounting department
- Performing basic office duties such as data entry, answering of phone calls, filing and mail processing, among many others
- Helping the accounting department with audits, discrepancies resolution, and fact-checking
- Preparing and fact-checking financial reports
- Handling all types of communications with vendors and clients in person, through the phone, and by email
- Answering queries from clients and vendors
- Reconciling bank accounts
- Preparing and statutory fact-checking accounts
- Recording and filing all cash transactions
- Fact-checking all payments, amounts, and records
- Controlling both credit and debt
- Regularly updating and maintaining procedural documentation
- Working closely with third-party providers and suppliers
- Drafting and reporting different financial presentations
- Tracking expenses and evaluating financial budgets
- Organizing the company’s bookkeeping processes
- Offering support in the creation and editing of financial documents
- Maintaining high levels of confidentiality of financial data
- Ensuring that routine reports and summaries are prepared in a timely fashion
- Interpreting and applying all accounting rules, regulations and policies to ensure compliance
- Researching and resolving accounting issues expeditiously
Required Knowledge and Skills
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word
- Knowledge of accounting principles and regulations
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Ability to work in team settings
- Excellent attention to details
- High levels of accuracy
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to meet deadlines in Tinley fashion
- Outstanding numerical skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to handle confidential information
- Knowledge and familiarity with finance regulations
- Excellent math skills
- Knowledge of bookkeeping procedures and regulations
- Outstanding IT skills
- Analytical thinking skills
Education and Experience
- Bachelor of Science/ Arts in Accounting, Finance, or a relevant field
- Hands-on experience with accounting software and applications
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite
- Proven work experience as an accounting assistant, clerk, or any related position
- Specialist training with a professional body in AAT or Business Administration
Salary
Glassdoor estimates accounting assistants’ salaries at nearly $40,000 yearly, with a possible additional pay of $48,000 yearly. However, some companies, such as Northop Grumman, pay their accounting assistants up to $58,000 yearly. Paid hourly, these professionals make roughly between $19-23. However, the good news is you will earn more as you climb the career ladder. If possible, become a full-time accountant.
Accounting Assistant CV Example 1
John Bruce
Physical address: 7768 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, California, 95004
Email address: johndebruce@gmail.com
Phone number: (767) 896-4687
Personal Profile
A certified and highly qualified accounting assistant with extensive knowledge of accounting principles and techniques. Professional team worker with 8+ years of experience in the accounting industry, working in different industries. An excellent time manager, ready to give all it takes for the organization’s success.
Work Experience
06/2019- 07/2022, Senior Accounting Assistant, Whitehouse Finance Company, CA
- Processes 80+ weekly checks and audited 20% of account payables for payment purposes
- Accurately conducted journal entry duties using ERP Dataflow system
- Conducted 30+ challenging account reconciliations monthly, including several account payable reconciliations
- Received the best employee of the year award in 2020 for mentoring 20+ employees in a year and helping them achieve an average of 30% productivity improvement in their career in the first three months
- Accurately prepared and processed the payroll for 100 employees
- Worked closely with an average of 100 monthly walk-in clients to resolve their queries and complaints
- Prepared monthly cash journal entries and recorded daily account receivables transactions
- Managed and supervised 10+ junior accounting assistants, ensuring that they were highly motivated and productive
05/2013- 05/2016, Part-time Accounting Assistant, Blue view Accounting Firm, California
- Supported a 15+ member team by successfully offering assistance with accounting tasks
- Worked closely with the senior accounting assistant to offer accounting and clerical support
- Timely reconciled bank statements, prepared monthly and quarterly reports as well as updated financial records, earning the best employee of the month twice in 2015
- Adequately researched, monitored, and restored documentation errors, saving the company $30,000 in possible losses
- Assisted with an average of 10 accounting projects weekly, collaborative with the accounting team for excellent results
- Regularly checked and updated spreadsheets to ensure that they were 100% accurate
- Reviewed and routed 30+ weekly invoices electronically for approval by the top management
- Worked with different accounting software for efficient operation
06/2011- 04/2013, Accounting Clerk, Botany Accounting Firm, Los Angeles
- Accurately recorded transactions and reduced reconciliation errors by 50%
- Managed 100+ weekly vendor invoice payments through regular receipt, tracking, and processing
- Prepared monthly and quarterly financial reports and statements
- Managed the purchasing of supplies for four organization departments
- Worked closely with five accounting clerks for the effective management of account payables
Education
- 04/2009- 04/2011, Associate Degree in Accounting and Finance, Consumnes River College, CA
- 01/2007- 01/2009, High School Diploma, Barley College Prep Senior School, CA
Skills
- Languages
- English
- French
- Croatian
Technical Skills
- Excellent IT skills
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite, i.e., Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
- Excellent G-suite skills
- Reporting skills
- Data Entry skills
- Maths skills
- Analytical skills
Soft Skills
- Customer service
- Detail orientation
- Organizational
- Written communication
- Time management
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Empathy
- Critical thinking
- Multitasking
- Oral communication
Volunteer Programs
10/15, Volunteer, Goodlife Children Home, California, LA
Accounting Assistant CV Example 2
Faith Abdi
Physical address: 117 Bouquet Cir, Windsor, California, 94115
Email address: abdifaith17@gmail.com
Phone number: (787) 456-3897
Personal Profile
A professional accounting assistant with 9+ years of experience working in national and multinational accounting firms. An avid team worker ready to learn and go the extra mile for workplace advancement. A charismatic and organized employee adept at accounting principles and procedures.
Work Experience
04/ 2019- 07/2022, Accounting Assistant, Bethany Mortgage Services, LA
- Performed 10+ daily tasks, including bookkeeping, accounting, and office tasks, with the help of the accounting team
- Worked closely with the controller, offering both clerical and accounting support for enhanced productivity
- Ensured that 100% of all reports, reconciled bank statements, and financial records were updated
- Used five online accounting systems to gather accounting data and documents, keeping at par with all financial transactions of the organization
- Prepared both weekly and monthly financial records to be presented to the company’s management
- Worked closely with a team of 5 accountants in the finance department to generate budgets for the executives and management
- Maintained 100% confidentiality ensuring that information such as bank accounts, personal payment details, and social security numbers did not fall into the wrong hands
- Answered an average of 60 calls daily to solve customer queries. Also directed calls for the right recipients
- Coordinated the company’s quarterly and annual statutory filing process
- Mentored 5+ junior accounting assistants, helping them get acquainted with the company’s processes and averagely improving their performance by 25% in the first quarter of mentorship
- Scheduled client appointments with senior members of the accounting departments, ensuring that their queries were answered
- Traced both profits and losses for the company daily and informed the right office employees
- Prepared quarterly and annual balance sheets for reviews by using QuickBooks
- Awarded the employee of the month twice for exceptional accounting support
03/2016- 04/2019, Accounting Assistant, Ryan Group of Companies, CA
- Collaborated with a 10- member accounting team on daily accounting projects and activities
- Prepared monthly and quarterly financial status and analysis reports for the board of directors, double-checking them to ensure that they were 100% accurate
- Regularly prepared, reconciled, and recorded payment details in a timely fashion, earning me the next employee of the month
- Handled at least five customer queries daily and ensured that customers were satisfied at the end of the day
- Prepared and submitted monthly expense reports to the management promptly for approval
- Observed all statutory accounting standards and guidelines during journal entries to ensure 100% accuracy
- Maintained 100% accurate company monthly and quarterly financial records in 3 years of engagement
- Increased administrative efficiency by 20% through the design and implementation of a documentation workflow system
- Used QuickBooks to reconcile 15+ client bank and credit accounts every month
- Trained two junior accountant assistants on accounting procedures and techniques, helping the company to maintain a highly skilled employee base ready and capable of taking it to the next level
- Handled 5+ basic administrative tasks, including email and phone call management, with utmost clarity
- Handled regular communications with 10+ clients and vendors over the phone, in-person, and via email, obtaining 99% positive customer feedback
- Resolved discrepancies in a timely fashion, saving the business $20,000 in errors
- Organized the bookkeeping process of the accounting department, ensuring that it was 100% accurate
- Regularly and thoroughly organized 5+ financial books, e.g., incoming and outgoing funds, with the help of the accounting department members
01/2013- 02/ 2016, Junior Accounting Clerk, Buckworth Accounting Firm, Los Angeles
- Performed 5+ basic administrative tasks, including mail distribution, phone call management, and clerical tasks, with the utmost professionalism
- Mentored new junior accounting clerks after two years of engagement, informing them about company policies, accounting principles, and best practices
- Prepared and distributed monthly and quarterly accounting reports to high-level managers in the accounting department
- Implemented a new database system for bookkeeping purposes, increasing bookkeeping efficiency by 20%
- Used appropriate computer software and extensive data entry skills to accurately post financial transactions daily
- Produced daily, monthly and quarterly reports, including balance sheets and income statements for accurate reporting
Education
- 01/2010- 12/2012, Associate Degree in Accounting and Finance, Cabrillo College, CA
- 02/2007- 11/2009, High School Diploma, Whitehill’s Senior School, LA
Skills
- Languages
- Arabic
- English
- French
Technical Skills
- Data Entry
- Excel
- IT skills
- Outlook
- Word
- PowerPoint
- QuickBooks
- Analytical skills
Soft Skills
- Communication
- Organizational
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Ability to thrive in team settings
- Multitasking
- High levels of empathy
- Interpersonal
- Writing
Certifications
04/15, Certified Public Accountant
Accounting Assistant Resume Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which Keywords Should I Include in My Accounting Assistant Resume?
Your accounting assistant resume should be as detailed and keyword-rich as possible if you intend to have an advantage over other applicants. What does this mean? You should include keywords that are friendly to applicant tracking software (ATS), just like in SEO. Some of the best keywords you can include in your resume are accountable, Microsoft Excel, data entry, database, accounts payable, MS Office, English speaking, technical, QuickBooks software, customer service, proactive, bank reconciliation balance sheet, detail-oriented, invoicing, communication skills, accuracy, analysis, purchase orders, bookkeeping, accuracy, scheduling, vendor management, etc.
2. What Technical Skills Should I Include in My Accounting Assistant Resume?
Accounting assistants must have technical skills, which are largely job-specific. Unlike soft skills, technical skills are often obtained through training and, in some cases, experience. Therefore, we urge you to ensure that your resume has administrative skills, which are the core skills for this job; competent IT skills such as proficiency with different software, including Excel and spreadsheet and excellent analytical skills required for problem-solving. Also, make sure that you understand different accounting software and systems. You can include other MS Office Suite skills, including Outlook, Office and PowerPoint, and Gmail Suite skills, which will most probably also come in handy in your job. Remember, these technical skills will tell whether you are qualified for the job and should be given top priority.
3. Which Certifications Can I Pursue a Good Accounting Assistant Career?
Luckily, there are several accounting assistant certifications that you can pursue, both online and in person. Some of the most common include Certified Management Accountant (CMA), offered by The Association of Accountants and requires yearly renewal; Certified Public Accountant (CPA), which is the most common, International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA), Medical accountant, Certified Resume Specialist: Accounting and Finance, Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, for those in the medical or healthcare field. Note that these certifications will easily give you an advantage over other applicants, making them worth pursuing.
4. How Can I Become an Accounting Assistant?
You don’t have to sweat to be an accounting assistant since it is relatively easy. You will need a high school diploma first, just like in any other career. After high school, you can get an accounting certification, such as Certified Public Accountant, which will equip you with the accounting basics needed for a successful career. However, note that you can also take the relatively longer route and get a college education, mainly focusing on accounting or business math. It would be best if you opted for an associate degree in accounting which will prepare you for an entry-level position, or better yet, a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business to qualify for advanced positions. Once you have acquired the right education, look for entry-level jobs in places such as supermarkets, retail stores, or offices. If you are ambitious enough, you will advance your career and occupy bigger roles with more responsibilities.
5. What is the Career Path of an Accounting Assistant?
You will probably start as an accounting assistant or a trainee in your accounting career before working your way up into a junior or assistant accountant position. After some time, you can be a qualified accountant before progressing to a senior accountant. You can further advance and get into management or choose to become a finance director, which definitely comes with its perks. All in all, know that there are several opportunities you can pursue if you choose to be an accounting assistant.
6. Which Soft Skills Do I Need for My Accounting Assistant Career?
Accounting assistants require a set of soft skills to relate well with clients and manage different aspects of their job. Therefore, when preparing an accounting assistant resume, ensure that you include excellent communication skills, outstanding customer service skills since you interact with different customers daily, excellent multitasking skills, ability to work well under pressure, ability to plan and organize work, problem-solving skills, excellent prioritization skills, high levels of creativity, active listening skills and empathy among many others. Ensure that your resume’s skills section is as detailed as possible. Also, note that your soft skills should come after hard skills when writing the work experience section of your resume.